Manifolding attachment for typewriters



June 8, 1954 Filed Aug. 22, 1951 G. W. MULLER MANIFOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS 2 Sheets-Sheet l INV'ENTOR. GERHARD W MULLEQ v brim 5.

ATTOR/VD.

June 8, 1954 G. w. MULLER 2,680,508 MANIFOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Aug. 22, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR.

1 GERHARD W MULLER A 7' TOPNEK Patented June 8, 1954 MANIFOLDIN G ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Gerhard W. Muller, Detroit, Mich.

Application August 22, 1951,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to typewriters, and more particularly to a' mechanism or attachment therefor adapted to prevent slippage of paper and carbon sheets in the process of insertion in the machine, and in going around the roller.

It is well appreciated in the art that virtually all typewriters possess a serious disadvantage in the fact of slippage and misalinement of paper sheets when typing with carbon copies. This disadvantage is particularly pronounced and ob- J'ectionable in filling out printed forms. In such a case while the ribbon copy of the form more.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved typewriter in which the above disadvantage is overcome and largely eliminated, and in which no appreciable offset or slippage of the paper and carbon sheets occurs.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved typewriter having novel means adapted to hold together the forward edges of the paper and carbon sheets as the pack thereof is being inserted into the typewriter, and to carry the pack for a predetermined distance around the roller as the same is turned manually, without releasing the hold on said edges.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction of the foregoing character, means being provided to release the hold on the forward edges of the sheets as they are about to come out from the roller.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction of the foregoing character, means being provided to make the edges-holding and carrying means ineffective after said release takes place and as the roller is turned for feeding the paper in typing, with said means requiring a new manual operation of the edges-holding mechanism to lock said mechanism to the roller for revolving with the roller.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the forward edges of the paper and carbon sheets are alined squarely, i. e. without any of the sheets becoming ofiset before the process of carrying the pack around the roller begins.

It is an added object of the present invention to provide a construction of the foregoing nature, which is simple in construction, dependable in operation, and is relatively inexpensive to manu- -facture and to service. 7 Further objects and advantages of this inven- Serial No. 243,034

tion will be apparent from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a typewriter embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View, partly broken away, the observer being presumed to look in the direction of the arrows on the plane passing through the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows on the section plane passing through the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, said view shoW- ing my improved mechanism in its starting position as it receives a pack of paper and carbon sheets for insertion thereof into the typewriter.

Fig. 4 is a View similar in part to Fig. 3, the mechanism being shown moved into the position to close the paper clip and ready to start its movement around the roller. 7

Fig. 5 is a view similar in part to Figs. 3 and 4. and showing the mechanism with the clip about to be opened for releasing the hold on the edges of the paper pack.

Fig. 6 shows a dog or pawl carried by the clip and adapted, when the clip is closed, to lock the same to the ratchet wheel of the typewriter for rotation with the roller.

Fig. '7 is a sectional View clip on an enlarged scale and tion.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one section of the paper clip.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating an additional mechanism adapted to close the clip, but without locking the same to the roller for rotation.

Fig. 10 is a front Fig. 9.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In accordance with the invention, I provide a clip extending along the entire length of the roller and adapted to be moved around the roller. The clip is normally open and is adapted to re ceivethe vforward or upper edges of the paper showing the paper in the closed posi view of the mechanism of and carbon sheet pack, when said pack is turned upside down for insertion into the typewriter. The clip is carried by two cranks freely rotating on the roller shaft. Means are provided to close the clip during a predetermined portion of its movement around the roller, and to maintain it open during the remaining portion of said movement. Manually actuated means are provided to lock the cranks to the roller for rotation as the clip is being closed. Automatic means are adapted to unlock the cranks from the roller as the clip opens.

In the drawings there is shown, by way of example'a typewriter embodying the present invention. Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the typewriter illustrated therein may be of any suitable type having a roller l l mounted for rotation in the carriage l2, in a manner well known in the art. The roller shaft 13 has hand wheels it, Hi provided on its ends for manual rotation of the roller. Ratchet wheels l5, Li are secured to the shaft also in a manner well known in the art. Pressure rolls l5, l6 cooperate with the roller ii and hold in typing the paper and carbon sheets thereto by exerting pressure thereon. Said rolls may be moved away from the roller ii and the pressure on the paper released in a manner well in the ar The upper pressure roll il' carried by the rod i3, which rod in turn is carried in brackets l9 hinged at 26, is provided to hold the paper to the roller on the top thereof.

The structure so far and no further description of thereof is required for proper the present invention.

In accordance with the invention, 1 provide two cranks 25, 25 mounted for free rotation on the roller shaft 63. The cranks 25 are of articulated construction, and each of them includes a bracket 2%! urged outwardly by a spring 21 into a fully extended position. A pin 22 moving in a slot 23 carries a spring 21, the other end of which is connected to a pin 2 provided on the crank 25. The outer end of the bracket 25 is connected to the end of the inner section 3i! of a long paper clip extending along the roller ll.

Ihe paper clip is composed of sections as and 3'2. and it extends throughout the entire length of the roller ii and adapted to receive the forward or upper edges of a pack 33 of paper and carbon sheets, as said pack is turned over for inserting into the typedescribed is conventional, the construction understanding of writer. The sections 3% and 32 are hingedly connected as shown at 3!. A spring 33 mounted on the hinge 34 tends to keep said sections 3 5 and 32 open in a V-shaped manner.

On both ends of the outer section 32 there are provided small rollers 3 adapted to run in grooved circular cam tracks 3'5 extending all the way around the roller adjacent both ends thereof; Each of the two tracks 35 has a depression 36 provided therein, approximately 45 from the upper center thereof. As it can be clearly seen from examination of the drawings, particularly of Fig. 3 thereof, when the roller 3!: gets into the depression 38, the clip opens up and is ready to receive the forward edges of a paper pack 31. Because of the relatively steep angle, the depression retains the roller as and consequently the crank 25, in the position shown in Fig. 3, unless pressure is exerted on the clip to move the crank downward. The inner section 3% of the paper clip carries on each of its two ends a pawl 46 having a spring 4| adapted to keep it in. its exslightly beyond it, and is thus 7 tended position to engage the ratchet wheel l5 mounted on the roller shaft l3. As it can be easily seen from an examination of Fig. 6, rotating the roller shaft 13 with the aid of hand wheels M will cause the ratchet wheel to push down on the pawl 48 and thus to rotate the crank 25 downwardly with the roller. In other words, the pawl 46 looks the crank 25 to the roller for rotation therewith.

It will be noted that movement of the roller 34 in the depression 36 from the position shown in Fig. 3 first operates to close the paper clip and thereupon moves the pawl 40 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 15. Therefore, the very first portion of the opening movement of the paper clip does not operate to unlock the pawl 40 from the ratchet wheel.

Referring again to Fig. 3, it will be noted that each of the two cam tracks 35 has a raised circular portion 43 extending for approximately around the roller and terminating in a step M, beyond which a circular portion 45 is provided. During the movement of each of the cranks 25 from the respective depression 36 to the step 44, the paper clip is fully closed, holding the edges of the paper pack and maintaining the pawl 40 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 22. As the rollers 34 run down the steps M, the outer section 32 of the paper clip moves sufficiently away from the inner section to release the hold on the edges of the paper pack.

It should be understood that for movements of the paper clip from the depression 36 to the step M, the pressure rolls it should be moved away from the roller, which can be easily done with the paper release lever provided on the typewriter.

When the paper clip passes the steps t4, the rolls l5 are returned into their pressure exerting position and, therefore, the paper pack is now held securely between the roller i l and the pressure rolls 1%. Further rotation of the roller H with the hand wheels H3 or otherwise, carries the paper and the clip upwardly. Near the upper center of the roller H the edges of the paper pack will tend to slip out from the paper clip and the upper portion of the paper will tend to straighten out. Still further rotation of the roller, which in this position of the paper may be caused by feeding the paper as in typing, will cause the paper to be moved in a conventional manner, thereby carrying the crank 25 into the depression as, wherein outward movement of the roller 34 will cause unlocking of the pawl 45) from ratchet wheel H2. Thereupon, further rotation of the roller does not affect the position of the cranks 25. For another locking of the clip and of the cranks 25 to the roller, 9. new downward thrust of the clip would be required. The above operation of the crank 25 and circular track has been described in some places with reference to one side of the typewriter only. However, it will be understood that a similar construction is provided on the other side of th typewriter as well.

Means to effect initial downward thrust or movement of the paper clip are exemplified by a manually operated thumb lever 59 having two pins 5! and 52 sliding in a slot E53 provided in the bracket is. The slot '53 a curved end portion 53a. A spring Ed is adapted to maintain the lever 58 in its upper position indicated in Fig. 3. Pushing the lever 5G backward into the position shown in Fig. 4, moves the paper clip and the crank 25 downward, closing the clip for pinching the edges of the paper pack and looking both cranks to the roller 8 l for rotation, thus beginning the operation cycle. It is preferable to provide levers 50 at both ends of the typewriter and to connect them with a bar such as Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the construction of the paper clip on a larger scale. The clip may be made of sheet metal and provided at its lips with rubber linings 55 to improve the hold of the clip lips on the paper. As an alternative conpaper edges and thus hold the paper positively. Shelves El are provided at the bottom portions of the clips at such an angle thereto, that when the clip is about to close, said shelves provide a substantially square support for the paper edges and thus prevent some of the edges from sticking out for a considerable distance beyond others, as is the case when a relatively thick paper pack is inserted into the space between two cylindrical rolls.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a mechanism which may be provided as an addition to the mechanism or device described above. The purpose of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 is to enable the operator to close the paper clip and pinch the paper edges without looking the cranks 25 to the roller for rotation. Said mechanism comprises a track Gil in which there is slidably fitted a slide SI having a cam 62 provided thereon. Small handles 63 on the slide ti enable the operator to secure hold thereof, and to push the slid downwardly to engage the roller 34 with 3 -1 the cam 62 and thus to close the clip.

and numerous additional advantages are attained.

pendently thereof, a paper-receiving clip carried 2 6 means to open said clip at predetermined points of the travel thereof.

2. In a typewriter having a roller mounted for rotation, two cranks mounted at the ends of said roller co-axially therewith for rotation indecranks and followed by said clip when the same is carried around with the roller, said track being adapted to close said clip, spring means to open said clip at predetermined points of its travel, and locking means carried by said clip and as the clip is opened.

3. The construction defined in claim 2, said clip having fiat means at its bottom to aline squarely the edges of the paper pack.

4. The construction defined in claim 2, said clip being made of sheet metal and having means at its holding lips to increase the holding power thereof.

5. The construction defined in claim 2, said clip including two hinged sections, and said spring means keeping said sections opened but yielding to the action of said cam track in closing the clip. 6. The construction defined in claim 2 and including a separate mechanism adapted to close the clip, but Without effecting locking of the cranks to the roller for rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

